very so

USAGE SUMMARY

'very so' is not correct and cannot be used in written English.
It is not a recognised phrase.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Broad run out 5; 18th over: England 123-8; target 171 Dwayne Bravo bowls his final over, and Broad, who's limping very so slightly, still can't find the boundary, but he does crack a decent drive to deep mid-off for one and essays another pull on the legside for two, well fielded by Russell.

The Guardian - Sport

Access: Sorry my inglish is very so so!

TechCrunch

Maybe due to small distance between principal and front buildings is very so less that channelling effect of the front interfering buildings does not affect the principal building.

International Journal of Advanced Structural Engineering

They were very (so very) close to closing a deal with Google in mid 2008, but the deal fell apart at the 11th hour.

TechCrunch

But once every very so often, something truly different happens.

Huffington Post

Read the tips for a better experience! but if you end up with your locker looking messy once more do the steps again and make a note to clean it out very so often.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Very so-so, in my opinion".

The New York Times - Sports

"Hillary Clinton, she's very so-so with it".

The Guardian

"I'm big on very so-called simple food done well -- fried chicken, pork sandwiches, pastrami".

Los Angeles Times

So very good and so very bad.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Very much so," Gissurarson said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "very so" in your writing. It is not grammatically correct and can confuse readers. Opt for more standard adverbs like "extremely", "very much", or "really" to convey the intended meaning.

Common error

Writers sometimes use phrases like "very so" in an attempt to add emphasis, but this construction is not recognized in standard English. Instead, focus on selecting strong verbs and adjectives that naturally convey the desired intensity without needing non-standard modifiers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very so" attempts to function as an adverbial modifier, aiming to intensify the meaning of another word or phrase. However, this construction is grammatically incorrect and not recognized in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's incorrectness.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "very so" is considered grammatically incorrect and is not recognized in standard English. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase should be avoided in formal writing. Instead, opt for more common and accepted alternatives like "extremely", "really", or "very much" to convey the intended emphasis. While it might be encountered in informal speech or older texts, its use in contemporary writing is generally discouraged to maintain clarity and grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

very much

A more standard way to express a high degree, often used with verbs or adjectives.

so very

Reverses the order while retaining the emphasis, though it may sound somewhat archaic or overly emphatic in modern usage.

really

A common adverb used to emphasize an adjective or another adverb.

highly

Indicates a high degree, often used with adjectives to denote quality or characteristic.

incredibly

Suggests an even higher degree than "extremely", emphasizing the surprising nature of the quality.

extremely

Indicates a high degree or intensity, replacing the combined effect of "very so" with a single, strong adverb.

particularly

Highlights a specific instance or aspect, providing a focused emphasis.

especially

Similar to "particularly", it emphasizes a specific case or condition.

quite

Implies a moderate degree, offering a less intense alternative while still indicating emphasis.

to a great extent

A more formal way to indicate a high degree or impact, suitable for academic or professional contexts.

FAQs

Is "very so" grammatically correct?

No, "very so" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's best to avoid using this phrase in formal or academic writing. Ludwig AI identifies this phrase as incorrect.

What can I use instead of "very so" to express intensity?

Instead of "very so", consider using adverbs like "extremely", "really", or "very much" depending on the context.

How can I improve my writing to avoid using incorrect phrases like "very so"?

Focus on using strong and precise vocabulary. Rather than relying on intensifiers, choose words that inherently convey the level of intensity you intend.

In what contexts might I encounter the phrase "very so", and why should I avoid it?

While you might occasionally encounter "very so" in informal speech or older texts, it's generally best to avoid it in contemporary writing due to its non-standard nature. Using "extremely" or "very much" will make your writing clearer and more effective.